Gameplay of Tetris: Difference between revisions

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Bird's eye description of the whole game
 
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The action of ''Tetris'' happens within a machine called a [[tetrion]].
The action of ''Tetris'' happens within a machine called a [[tetrion]].


The largest part of the tetrion is a [[playfield]] consisting of a 10 by 20 space grid.
The largest part of the tetrion consists of the [[playfield]] measuring ten by twenty spaces.
It has other parts explained below.
It has other parts explained below.


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The [[piece preview]] is a part of the tetrion that shows the next pieces that will enter the playfield.
The [[piece preview]] is a part of the tetrion that shows the next pieces that will enter the playfield.


The player can [[rotate]] the falling tetromino 90 degrees at a time within the plane of the playfield by pressing the counterclockwise or clockwise rotation button, provided that there is space for it to rotate.
The player can [[rotate]] the falling tetromino ninety degrees at a time within the plane of the playfield by pressing the counterclockwise or clockwise rotation buttons, provided the piece has room to rotate.
Some versions of the game [[wall kick|nudge]] the tetromino away from the wall or other blocks in order to make room.
Some versions of the game [[wall kick|nudge]] the tetromino away from the wall or other blocks in order to make room.


The player can shift the falling tetromino sideways one space at a time by pressing the left or right arrow or [[DAS|holding it for quicker movement]], provided that there is space for it to move. It cannot be shifted through the walls, or sides of the playfield, or through other blocks.
The player can shift the falling tetromino sideways one space at a time by pressing the left or right arrow or [[DAS|holding it for quicker movement]], provided the piece has room to move. Pieces cannot shift through walls or other blocks.


At the top left of the tetrion is an area called the [[hold piece|hold]] box in which a tetromino can be stored for later use.
At the top left, or in some cases the bottom right, of the tetrion is an area called the [[hold piece|hold]] box where a player can store a tetromino for later use.
At any time while a tetromino is falling, the player can move it to the hold box, and any tetromino that was in the hold box move to the top of the playfield.
At any time while a tetromino falls, the player can move it to the hold box, and any tetromino held earlier now moves to the top of the playfield.
A tetromino moved out of hold cannot be moved back into hold; it must be locked (see below).
After moving a tetromino to the hold box, the player must then lock the resulting tetromino before holding again (see below).


Each tetromino [[drop|moves downward]] slowly by itself.
Each tetromino [[drop|moves downward]] slowly by itself.
There is generally a method for the player to "drop" the tetromino, or make it move downward more quickly.
Generally a player can use some method to "drop" the tetromino, or make it move downward faster.
Once the tetromino lands on the floor or other blocks, there is a short [[lock delay|delay]] in which the player can move the piece before it locks into place.
Once the tetromino lands on the floor or other blocks, the piece will [[lock delay|delay]] shortly before locking in which time the player can move it.
After the tetromino locks, it cannot be moved further.
After locking, a player can no longer move the tetromino.


If tetrominoes lock into a position that fills in all spaces in one or more rows of the playfield with blocks, this is a [[line clear]].
When a tetromino locks and by doing so fills all empty spaces within one more more rows of the playfield, those full rows will [[line clear|clear.]]
The blocks in those rows are removed, and the blocks above them move down by as many rows as were removed.
Remaining blocks above will move down by as many rows removed.
 
If the playfield has not filled up with blocks, the next piece enters the playfield.


If the playfield has not [[top out|filled up]] with blocks, the next piece enters.
== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[Glossary]]
*[[Glossary]]
*[[General technique]]
*[[General technique]]

Revision as of 00:03, 15 December 2006

The action of Tetris happens within a machine called a tetrion.

The largest part of the tetrion consists of the playfield measuring ten by twenty spaces. It has other parts explained below.

Randomly selected tetrominoes, or shapes consisting of four square blocks, fall from the top of the playfield one at a time. Each tetromino enters the playfield with a given orientation and color depending on its shape. The piece preview is a part of the tetrion that shows the next pieces that will enter the playfield.

The player can rotate the falling tetromino ninety degrees at a time within the plane of the playfield by pressing the counterclockwise or clockwise rotation buttons, provided the piece has room to rotate. Some versions of the game nudge the tetromino away from the wall or other blocks in order to make room.

The player can shift the falling tetromino sideways one space at a time by pressing the left or right arrow or holding it for quicker movement, provided the piece has room to move. Pieces cannot shift through walls or other blocks.

At the top left, or in some cases the bottom right, of the tetrion is an area called the hold box where a player can store a tetromino for later use. At any time while a tetromino falls, the player can move it to the hold box, and any tetromino held earlier now moves to the top of the playfield. After moving a tetromino to the hold box, the player must then lock the resulting tetromino before holding again (see below).

Each tetromino moves downward slowly by itself. Generally a player can use some method to "drop" the tetromino, or make it move downward faster. Once the tetromino lands on the floor or other blocks, the piece will delay shortly before locking in which time the player can move it. After locking, a player can no longer move the tetromino.

When a tetromino locks and by doing so fills all empty spaces within one more more rows of the playfield, those full rows will clear. Remaining blocks above will move down by as many rows removed.

If the playfield has not filled up with blocks, the next piece enters.

See also